Underwater connector



Sept. 5, 1967 G. E. LEWIS- UNDERWATER CONNECTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 21, 1964 INVENTOR. 650/265 E LEW/S BY a f, z

Sept- 1967 c;. E. LEWIS 3,339,632

UNDERWATER CONNECTOR Filed Jan. 21, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 T E60 20 I R105 g Q: x 106 i i j i U \v azr United States Patent 3,339,632UNDERWATER CONNECTOR George E. Lewis, Arcadia, Califi, assignor toHydril Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Ohio Filed Jan.21, 1964, Ser. No. 339,235 36 Claims. (Cl. 166-.6)

This invention relates generally to the control of underwater well headequipment, and more particularly concerns methods and means forcontrolling separable groups of such equipment in a stack, includingactuators to be left at the underwater location while another actuatoris elevated.

In certain underwater well drilling or producing operations it isdesirable to service the well as by means of a tool or a stack of toolsconnectible to a projecting well fitting, such as submarine stub casingterminating above the ocean floor. As an example, where well casing hasalready been sunk in the submarine hole with the free end of the casingprojecting above the ocean floor, it is desirable to provide for thecontrolled operation of well blowout prevention equipment, safetyvalves, safety joints or connectors, as well as other auxiliaryapparatus, typically mounted on a frame and in a stack attached to theprojecting well casing, in order to serve the well. Commercial equipmentof this nature is generally fluid pressure operated, and it hasheretofore been considered necessary to provide a large bundle ofseparate pressure hoses, each extending from a surface location to aparticular tool in the stack so that independent operation of such toolsmight be achieved as desired. However, where certain equipment in thestack is to be left at the underwater location for relatively longperiods of time, say for example where the well is shut in, thecontinued dangling of the multiple hoses to great depths becomesimpractical and a source of major difficulty. Thus, should the hosesdeteriorate, or break, or become entangled with other equipment, theunderwater tools may not remain operable with attendant risk of loss ofthe well including loss to the sea of great quantities of petroleum orgas.

Toward solving the above and other problems associated with theservicing of an underwater well, the present invention contemplates thelowering of a stack of underwater well head equipment into operatingposition at the well head location, and the subsequent detachment fromand attachment to the stack of apparatus capable of controlling theoperation of the stack equipment from the surface. More specifically,after the stack is lowered into position at the well head andappropriate tools operated, the control apparatus may then be de tachedfrom the stack and elevated to the surface to remove the danglingcontrol lines which otherwise may likely become the source ofmalfunctioning of the tools at the well head. Thereafter, whenever theoperating configuration of the underwater tools is to be altered, thecontrol apparatus is lowered and guided into detachable operatingconnection with the stack, and transmission from the surface to the wellhead of controlling signals or fluid pressure may be carried out asdesired, following which the apparatus may again be elevated.

In these regards, the invention also contemplates the inclusion in thestack of a device or connector operable by fluid pressure to disconnectupper and lower or other sections of the stack, permitting the freedsection to be raised with the tubing or casing and leaving the lowersection of the stack to close in the well. For this purpose, the stepsof the overall method of installation include the preliminary connectionof certain auxiliary control apparatus with the said device, prior tolowering of the stack, whereby the device may be operated independentlyof the apparatus which is detachably connectible with the stack at theunderwater well head location.

In its apparatus aspects, the present invention contemplates theprovision of a stack of well head servicing equipment includingseparable actuators at least one of which is to remain at the underwaterlocation and another of which may be separated from the stack andelevated to the surface, say with the tubing or casing. First means isprovided to controllably transmit fluid pressure from a supply zone atthe underwater location to the first actuator, second means is providedto transmit fluid pressure from a source at the surface to the secondactuator, and there is apparatus detachably connected with the stack tocontrol the operation of the said first means.

More specifically, the last mentioned detachable apparatus typicallycomprises one of a pair of members, such as spear and socket members,which are adapted for relative movement between coupled and uncoupledpositions. The members may carry electrical terminals that detachablyinterfit when the members are coupled and they may have fluid passingports that intercommunicate when the members are in coupled position.Also, the members are provided with guide surfaces that guide memberrelative advancement and rotation about an axis as the members undergorelative axial movement into coupled position.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of electrical cableand fluid line elements connected with the spear for lowering it to thewell head location and novel means attaching the said elements to thespear body so as to avoid undesirable tensioning of the electricalterminals carried by the spear, an upright guide attached to the socketmember and running upwardly to the surface and a guide follower attachedto the spear member to guide vertical movement of the spear toward andaway from the socket, flaring external guide surface extent carried bythe socket body for guiding the spear nose into the socket, and novelmeans for protecting the electrical terminals carried by the spear andsocket assemblies from deterioration by the ocean water.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as thedetails of an illustrative embodiment, Will be more fully understoodfrom the following detailed description of the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation showing a stack of well servicing tools at asubmarine well head location, together with apparatus permanently anddetachably connected with the stack for controlling operation of thestack actuators;

FIGURES 2 and 2a are enlarged vertical sections showing the details ofthe control apparatus detachably connected to the stack;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken on line 33 of FIG- URE 2a;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG- URE 2a;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view showing the spear and socket terminalsfollowing disconnection thereof;

FIGURE 6 is a view of the surface equipment for lowering and elevatingthe stack and easing or tubing, the control apparatus connectiblethereto and the surface source of fluid pressure;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevation showing the top of a stack ofunderwater well servicing tools, with casing thereabove, together with amodified apparatus detachably connectible with the stack for controllingoperation of the stack actuators;

FIGURES 8 and 8a constitute an enlarged vertical elevation taken insection to show the details of the FIG. 7 control apparatus detachablyconnected to the stack;

FIGURE 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary elevation taken on line 1010 of FIG. 8a.

In FIG. 1 a drill hole sunk beneath the ocean floor 11 contains a stringof casing 12 cemented or otherwise fixed in position for furthersuitable drilling or producing operations. Drill pipe or tubing is shownat 13 extending downwardly through the casing string.

The submarine well head equipment includes a lower connector unit 14releasably fastened onto the casing stub 15 projecting upwardly. Insequence above unit 14 are double master gate 16, blowout preventer 17,a pressure distributing control unit 18, and another connector 19,intermediate tubular stubs or extensions being indicated at 20, 21, 22and 23. The connectors 14 and 19 are releasably attached to stubs 15 and23 respectively, and may be of the type disclosed in US. Patent No.2,962,096 to Knox; the unit 18 may be of the type disclosed in Lewisapplication for US. Letters Patent Ser. No. 165,742 filed Ian. 12, 1962,now U.S. Patent 3,219,118; and the blowout preventer 17 may be of thetype disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,609,836 to Knox.

Fluid pressure is transmitted from an underwater supply source in theform of pressure vessels 24 and 25 to the unit 18 via lines 26 and 27;and pressure is controllably transmitted from unit 18 to the connector14 via lines 28, to the master gate 16 via lines 29, and to thepreventer 17 via lines 30. Fluid pressure is supplied from the surfacesource 31 seen in FIG. 6 via hoses 32 to the upper connector unit 19 inthe stack, for operation independently of unit 18 or in combinationtherewith.

To complete the general description of FIG. 1, the numeral 33 designatesthe base of. a frame for the well head equipment stack, the frame alsoincluding guide lines 34 attached to the base and transverse members 35and 36 respectively attached to the lower connector 14 and the top ofunit 19, said members interconnecting the guide lines at verticallyspaced locations. The guide lines 34 extend to the surface, and themembers 35 and 36 have slidable connection therewith at 3'7 and 38 forguiding the connectors downwardly into position as shown. If theconnect-or 14 is released from the stub 15, it and the equipmentthereabo-ve may be elevated to the surface as the casing 39 in thestring or stack is run upwardly. Alternatively, if the connector 19 isreleased from the stub 23, it and the casing 39 may be elevated as thecasing 39 is run upwardly, leaving the equipment in the stack therebelowat the well head, as for example when the well is shut-in. The casing isrun downwardly or upwardly by adding or subtracting casing lengths atthe surface, by suitable means generally indicated at 40 in FIG. 6 andon platform or vessel 41.

Extending the description to the remaining figures, apparatus generallyindicated at 42 is connectible with the stack to control the operationof unit 18, the latter being characterized as typical of a means tocontrollably transmit pressure from an underwater supply zone (such asvessels 24 and 25) to an actuator such as any of the equipment 14, 16and 17. In this regard, actuators 14, 16 and 17 may be considered as ofa first type in that they are controlled by unit 18, whereas actuator 19may be considered as of a second type in that it is independentlyoperable in response to pressure transmission from the surface sourcesuch as pressure vessel 31 suitably supplied with hydraulic pressurefrom a pump at location 43.

Apparatus 42 may be broadly considered to include telescopicallyextending spear and socket members, one of which is connected to thestack and the other of which is detachably connectible to said onemember. Thus, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a socket member or assembly 44is carried by the cross piece 45 anchored to the stack at unit 18,whereas spear member or assembly 48 is detachably connected to the stackvia the socket member 44.

The socket member 44 is shown in FIG. 2a to include a tubular body madeup of forward sections 49 and 50, and intermediate section 51 having asomewhat enlarged or stepped bore 52, and a rearward section 53 having afurther outwardly stepped bore 54. The latter terminates rearwardly orupwardly at a funnel 55 the inner surface 56 of which flares upwardlyand outwardly. The spear member or assembly 48 is shown as generallyvertically coaxial with the socket assembly, and as including a forwardbody section 57 received within the bore 58 of the socket body 49. Thespear body also includes an intermediate section 59 which is enlarged at69 to slidably fit in a loose manner within the bore 52 of the socketbody section 51. Spear body intermediate section 59 has a lower smallsection having a close fit 52a in the bore of forward socket section 50.Finally, the spear body includes an upper section 70 which projectsupwardly through the socket body section 53 and through the funnel 55,as better seen in FIG. 2, said section carrying an alignment ring 71slidably fitting within the socket body section 53. Because of therelative bore diameters and spear outside diameters, the engagement ofthe spear and socket takes advantage of the effect of placing a coneinto a mating conical funnel; i.e., the nearer the twoare to engagementthe tighter the fit.

The spear section 59 contains a pair of fluid passing ports 72 and 73,and port terminals 74 and 75 which communicate with the ports 76 and 77in the socket body section 50 when the spear and sockets are fullycoupled, as seen in FIG. 2a. Accordingly, at such time the fluidpressure may be transmitted downwardly through the fluid lines 78 and 79from the surface to the spear body ports, and then through the socketports 76 and 77 and transfer lines 80 and 81 to the unit 18 seen inFIG. 1. The fluid pressure is then transmitted to the storage vessels 24and 25 via lines 26 and 27, in order to replenish fluid pressure thereinwhich may be used up in operating the various actuators in the stack.Referring back to FIG. 2a, seal rings are shown at 82 and 83 above andbelow the ports 74 and 76 for sealing off between the spear body surfaceand the socket bore to prevent escape of fluid passing between saidports in coupled position. Likewise, seal rings 82 and 84 seal off belowand above the ports 75 and 77.

Extending the description to FIG. 5, the spear includes a centralretainer 85 carried within the body sections 57 and 59 for holding orclamping the enlarged end portion 86 of an electrical cable 87, thelatter extending vertically and centrally within the spear assembly asshown. It will be understood that the cable 87 together with the hoses78 and 79 extend upwardly to the surface, as indicated in FIG. 6. Insimilar manner, the socket assembly includes a retainer 88 for holdingor clamping the end portion or head 89 of a cable 90 running from thesocket to the control unit 18, as better seen in FIG. 1. The retainer 88is held in place by the socket body cap structure 91 bolted to thesocket body section 49. Set screws are shown at 92 and 93 for orientingthe retainers 85 and 88, and the cable end portions 86 and 89, abouttheir common axis and in such relation as to assure proper interfittingof the electrical terminals carried by the cable end portions.

The socket terminals are indicated at 94 in FIG. 5 as projectingupwardly for reception within the nose recess 95 in the spear assembly,and specifically within a skirt 96 carrying the receptacles 97 for theterminals 94. Furthermore, the nose recess 95 is shown as containing aflowable waterproof material such as silicone grease indicated at 98 asprotectively overlying the spear terminals or receptacles 97. One suchgrease is known as Dow Corning 11 Compound. The construction is suchthat when the spear is retracted upwardly from the socket, as seen inFIG. 5, the protective material remains coated on the terminals 94 and97 to protect them against damage from sea water contact. In thisregard, the forward end portion of the spear nose 57 is notched at 99 tovent excess grease escaping from the nose recess 95 and from within theskirt cavity during interconnection of the terminals 94 and 97. Thenotching 99 is such as not to prevent bottoming of the spear noseagainst the socket interior end surface 100 during coupling of the spearand socket assemblies. Finally, the socket body section 49 contains aside opening or window 101 at the general location of the notch 99 topass sea water during coupling and de-coupling of the spear and socketassemblies. Window 101 also serves as a clean out opening should oceansediments settle in the bottom of the receptacle.

The purpose of the cables 87 and 90 is to transmit electrical signals tothe unit 18 for operating suitable valves therein controlling thedistribution of fluid pressure from the underwater sources 24 and 25 todifferent actuators in the stack, seen in FIGURE 1. In order to insureagainst tensioning of the cable 87 pulling it upwardly out of theposition shown in FIG. 2a, the cable and hoses 78 and 79 are clamped at102 to the spear body section 70, leaving certain looseness in the hosesand cable at the general location 103 below the clamp. Additional meansattaching the hoses and cable to the spear body include an arm 104having pivotal attachment at 105 to the spear body member'106, allowingthe arm to rotate between up and down positions, the up position beingindicated by the broken lines 107, FIG. 1. The hoses and cable aretypically attached to the arm 104 as by the clamp 108, seen in FIG. 2,so as to be free of tension below said clamp when the arm is extendedvertically and upwardly. Accordingly, the spear assembly may be elevatedand lowered by means of the cable and hose lengths above the arm sincelifting force is transmitted to the arm through the clamp 108, and fromthe arm to the spear body 70 through the pivot 105.

During lifting and lowering of the spear assembly relative to thesocket, the spear is guided vertically along a guide cable or line 109which extends from the surface downwardly to the socket location forconnection to the structure integral with the stack, typical structurebeing indicated at 45, and the connection thereto at 110. Guide cablefollowers carried by the spear are generally indicated at 111 and 112with openings therein to pass the guide cable 109, whereby underwatervertical movement of the spear is guided toward and away from the socketentrance. As the spear nose which is tapered at 113 approaches thesocket, it is guided into the bore 54 by engagement with the funnelflare surface 56, and thereafter the enlarged spear section 69 engagesthe funnel to produce approximate alignment as the nose of the spearpilots into the lower body sections of the socket. In addition, theguide structure includes surfaces for guiding relative advancement androtation of the spear about the common axis as the spear and socketmembers undergo relative movement into coupled position. Such guidemeans may include an, exterior cam roller 114 carried by the spear bodysection 59 to engage an interior cam shoulder 115 at the upper terminalof the socket body section 51, said shoulder spiraling about the socketaxis in a downward direction thereby to guide rotation and downwardadvancement of the spear in the socket for ultimate intercoupling of thespear and socket electrical terminals. In this regard, the guide flange71 on the spear is spaced sufficiently rearwardly of the cam roller 114to allow it to penetrate the socket bore 54 after the cam roller hasengaged the top of the shoulder 115. Also, the ring 71 penetrates thesocket bore 54 before the reduced diameter portion of the spear bodysection 59 penetrates the bore of the socket section 50. When the latteroccurs, the cam 114 has arrived at the vertically extending slot 116 inthe socket body section 51, whereby the spear from then on is notrotated and the seal rings 82 84 are not twisted as they are advancedinto the bore of the socket body section 50.

Referring to the overall method of installation and operation of thestack of underwater well head equipment shown in FIG. 1, and theapparatus 42 also shown, the stack is lowered into operating position atthe well head location typically with the spear and socket members orassemblies coupled together. Thereafter, the unit 18 may be operated toplace the actuators in the stack in desired configurations, as forexample, by closing the master gate 16 or the blowout preventer 17, andcoupling the connector 14 to the casing stub 15. The spear apparatus maythen be detached from the socket and elevated away from the stack. Also,the connector 19 may be independently operated to release from the stub23 and thereafter lift away from the stack. The spear apparatus maysubsequently be lowered toward the stack and guided into operativeconnection therewith via the socket member, the spear then beingoperated to transmit fluid pressure and/ or electrical signals tocontrol delivery of fluid pressure from the underwater sources 24 and 25to selected actuators, by operation of the unit 18. Accordingly, thestack of equipment may be left on the ocean floor with the spearapparatus elevated, and also the casing 39 elevated as, for example,where the well is shut-in. The well head equipment may be serviced atany time by lowering of the spear apparatus as described and connectingsaid apparatus to the stack to operate the unit 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-10, the top of the stack of under-Water wellhead equipment is indicated generally at 120 in FIG. 7, with casing 39projecting thereabove, as was discussed in connection with FIG. 1.Suitably attached to the casing sections 39a and 3% as by straps 121 areguide tubes 122, the latter extending in vertical alignment when thecasing sections are fully made up at the general location 123.

A receptacle or socket member 124 is located directly below and inalignment with the tubes 122 so as to extend telescopically as ininterfitting relation with the spear member 125, which is better seen inFIG. 8a. The spear is suspended by a cable 126 extending from thesurface downwardly through the guide tubes 122, whereby the spear may beraised and lowered through the tubes as desired in order to effectoperative electrical connection, via the socket 124, with the actuatorsin the stack of equipment at the well head on the ocean floor. In thisregard, it will be noted that vents or openings 127 are provided atintervals along the tubes 122 in order to allow flow of sea watertherethrough as the spear is lifted and lowered. The ends of the tubes122 may be spaced apart by gaps 123a laterally opposite the joints 123between casing sections so that the tubes 122 may be individuallyremoved from and applied to the casing section as the latter are runinto or out of the ocean.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 8a the socket member 124 is seen to includea tubular body shell 128 having a side cutaway at 129. The lowerinterior of the body shell 128 is plugged or closed by a split retainer130 for bolding a cable 132 having enlarged end portion 133 projectingupwardly from the retainer. Ring 131a extending about the retainer isheld in place by screw 131. Rotary adjustment and setting of theretainer 130 is facilitated by a setscrew 134. Finally, the socketmember carries a guide in the form of a projection 135 exposed at thesocket interior opposite the window or cutaway 129.

The spear member 125 is shown in FIG. 8a as generally vertically coaxialwith the socket member, and as includ ing intercoupled tubular bodysections 136, 137 and 138. Split section 137 retains the cable 126 thelower end portion of which is enlarged at 139, and setscrews 140 and 141are provided to hold the tubular sections 136 and 138 in place aboutsplit section 137. Such orientation contributes to proper interfittingof the electrical terminals 142 and 143 carried by the cable endportions 133 and 139 respectively. The socket cable terminals or pins142 project upwardly for reception within the nose recess 144 in thespear assembly, and specifically within a cable end skirt 145.Furthermore, the recess 144 preliminarily contains a protective viscouswaterproof material such as silicone grease in a thin layer protectivelyoverlying the spear electrical terminals or terminal sockets 143, in amanner similar to the embodiment seen in FIG. 5. Suit 7 able notchingmay be provided in the skirt 145 to vent excess grease escaping from therecess 144 during interconnection of the terminals.

As the spear member 125 is lowered by the cable into the socket 124, itis guided longitudinally by the rather close interfitting of the spearbody outer diameter with the socket body bore 146. In addition, thespear is guided in rotation about the common axis of said members, as bysliding engagement of spear guide shoulder 147 with the socket guideprojection 135, all for the purpose of aligning the electrical terminals142 and 143 just before they interfit together. Shoulder 147 spiralsvertically about the common axis and terminates in a longitudinal andvertical slot 148 into which the projection fits with the terminals 142and 143 then precisely aligned. The load of the spear, cable and weightsthereon is not imposed on the projection, but is rather transmitted byinterengageable stops limiting relative telescopic movement of themembers 124 and 125 into coupled condition. For this purpose, as shownin FIG. 10, a V-shaped stop may project downwardly at 150 on the spear,to interfit the V- shaped stop notch 151 on the socket body, theseelements also helping to bring the spear and socket members into exactrotary orientation.

Finally, tubular weighting means is carried on the cable 126 above thespear 125 to urge the latter downwardly as it is lowered through theguide tubes 122 toward the socket 124 and to provide suflicient force tosecurely engage contacts 1-42 and receptacles 143. Typical of suchweighting means are the vertically split tubular inner sections 152 seenin FIG. 9 as assembled about the cable 126 and held in place by thetubular outer section 153. The weighting means is further characterizedas allowing restricted flexing of the cable 126, and for this purposethe sections 152 and 153 may be rather short of otherwise disconnectedat short intervals along the cable, whereby jamming or binding of thecable and weighting means thereon in the guide tube-s 122 is prevented.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described, comprising underwater axiallyextending socket and spear members adapted for relative movement betweenuncoupled and coupled positions, said members carrying electricalterminals that interfit when the members are coupled and having fluidpassing ports that intercommunicate when the members are in coupledposition, one of said members having a recess at the terminus thereofcontaining a flowable waterproof material protectively overlying themember electrical terminals and adapted to be displaced as the terminalsof both members interfit, and said members having guide surfaces forguiding member relative advancement and rotation about said axis as themembers undergo said relative movement into coupled position.

2. Apparatus of the character described, comprising underwater axiallyextending socket and spear members adapted for relative movement betweenuncoupled and coupled positions, said members carrying electricalterminals that interfit when the members are coupled and having fluidpassing ports that intercommunicate when the members are in coupledposition, the spear having a nose recess containing a flowablewaterproof material protectively overlying the spear electricalterminals, at least one of said members containing a vent to receivesaid material displaced from said recess as the member terminalsinterfit, and said members having guide surfaces for guiding memberrelative advancement and rotation about said axis as the members undergosaid relative movement into coupled position.

3'. Apparatus of the character described, comprising underwater axiallyextending socket and spear members adapted for relative movement betweenuncoupled and coupled positions, said members carrying electricalterminals that interfit when the members are coupled and having fluidpassing ports that intercommunicate when the members are in coupledosition, one of said members having a recess at the terminus thereofcontaining a flowable waterproof material protectively overlying themember electrical terminals and adapted to be displaced as the terminalsof both members interfit, and said members having guide surfaces forguiding member relative advancement and rotation about said axis as themembers undergo said relative movement into coupled position, the socketflaring at the entrance thereof to direct the spear nose into the socketinterior, and cable means to direct said relative movement so that thespear nose engages said socket flare.

4. Apparatus of the character described, comprising underwater axiallylongitudinally extending socket and spear assemblies adapted forrelative movement between uncoupled and coupled positions, saidassemblies carrying electrical terminals that interfit at the nose ofthe spear when the assemblies are coupled, and having fluid passingports that intercommunicate at the spear side when the assemblies are incoupled position, the spear having a nose recess containing a flowablewaterproof material protectively overlying the spear electricalterminals, and said assemblies having guides certain of which extendlongitudinally and about said axis for guiding assembly relativeadvancement and rotation about said axis as the assemblies undergo saidrelative movement into coupled position.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which the spear assembly includesan upright body, an electrical cable communicating with said spearterminals, a fluid line communicating with said spear port, said cableand line having elongated extensions adapted to hang underwater abovethe spear body, and means attaching the line and cable to the spear bodyat a location spaced above said spear terminal and ports.

6. Apparatus of the character described, comprising underwater generallyvertically and telescopically extending members one of which isindependently vertically movable to be capable of lowering into couplingrelation with the other member and also to be capable of upwardwithdrawal to the surface independently of the other, said memberscarrying electrical terminals that interfit when the members arecoupled, said one member having a nose recess containing a viscouswaterproof material protectively overlying the member electricalterminals upon underwater lowering thereof, the members having a commonaxis and also having guides for guiding member relative verticalmovement along said axis and rotation about said axis as the members arebrought toward and away from coupled relation underwater.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 including underwater cable means forlifting and lowering said one member, electrical lines contained withinsaid cable and connected with the terminals protected by said viscousmaterial.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said members haveinterengageable stops to limit relative telescopic movement of saidmembers into coupled condition without imposing weight on said guides.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said one member comprises aspear receivable downwardly into the other member which comprises atubular socket, said guides include a projection carried by the socketand extending into the path of spear movement, and said guides alsoincluding a shoulder carried on the spear to spiral vertically aboutsaid axis for engaging said projection as the spear penetrates thesocket, thereby to guide rotation and downward advancement of the spearin the socket for ultimate alignment and intercoupling of the spear andsocket member electrical terminals.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 including tubular weighting meanscarried on said cable above the spear to urge the spear downwardly as itis lowered toward the socket while allowing restricted flexing of saidcable.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim including tubular guide meansextending underwater to receive said spear, cable and tubular weightingmeans.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 including an underwater well headassembly operatively connected with said other member, tubular wellcasing extending upwardly from said assembly toward the water surface,and tubular guide means attached to said casing and sized to receivesaid one member and said underwater cable means, said guide meansextending generally vertically above said other member to guide saidlifting and lowering of said one member toward and away from said othermember.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 in which said tubular guide meansincludes a series of pipes respectively attached to a series of casingsections, there being pipe openings to the exterior to exhaust waterfrom the pipe interior at different elevations as said one member islowered by said cable means and in the pipes toward said other member.

14. In the method of installing a stack of underwater well headequipment and apparatus capable of connection with the stack to controlthe operation of said equipment from the surface, the steps that includelowering said stack of equipment into operating position at the wellhead location, then lowering said apparatus toward the stack in saidposition and guiding said apparatus into operative connection with saidstack, and establishing an electrical connection between said apparatusand said stack by displacing flowable waterproof material away fromprotectively overlying relation to electrical terminals through whichthe electrical connection is made.

15. In the method of installing a stack of underwater well headequipment and apparatus capable of connection with the stack to controlthe operation of said equipment from the surface, said equipmentincluding fluid pressure responsive actuator means, the steps thatinclude connecting certain of said apparatus with the stack to controlthe operation of first actuator means, lowering said stack of equipmentinto operating position at the well head location, then lowering otherof said apparatus toward the stack in said position and guiding saidother apparatus into releasable operative connection with said stack tocontrol the operation of second actuator means, and establishing anelectrical connection between said apparatus and said stack bydisplacing flowable waterproof material away from protectively overlyingrelation to electrical terminals through which the electrical connectionis made.

16. In the method of installing and operating a stack of underwater wellhead equipment and apparatus capable of detachable connection with thestack to control the operation of said equipment from the surface, saidequipment including fluid pressure responsive actuator means and asource of fluid pressure, the steps that include lowering said stack ofequipment into operating position at the well head location, detachingand elevating said apparatus from the stack, then later lowering saidapparatus toward the stack in said position and guiding said apparatusinto operative connection with the stack, and establishing an electricalconnection between said apparatus and said stack by displacing flowablewaterproof material away from protectively overlying relation toelectrical terminals through which the electrical connection is made,and then operating said apparatus to control delivery of fluid pressurefrom said underwater source in the stack to selected actuator means.

i 17. Inthe method of installing and operating a stack of underwaterwell head equipment and apparatus capable of connection with the stackto control the operation of said equipment from the surface, saidequipment including a fluid pressure responsive device operable todisconnect sections of the stack and other fluid pressure responsivemeans, the steps that include establishing connection of certain of saidapparatus with said device to control the operation thereof, loweringsaid stack of equipment into operating position at the well headlocation, then lowering other of said apparatus toward the stack in saidposition and guiding said other apparatus into operative connection withsaid stack to control the operation of said other fluid pressureresponsive means, and establishing an electrical connection between saidapparatus and said stack by displacing flowable water proof materialaway from protectively overlying relation to electrical terminalsthrough which the electrical connection is made, and later operatingsaid device by operation of said certain apparatus to disconnect saidsections of the stack.

18. In the method of operating a stack of underwater Well head equipmentincluding fluid pressure responsive actuators, the steps that includetransmitting fluid pressure from a storage zone at the underwaterlocation to one of said actuators, lowering underwater and coupling tothe stack a fluid pressure line and an electrical cable terminating at aspear, and transmitting fluid pressure from a storage zone at thesurface and through said line to another of said actuators.

19. The method of claim 18 including transmitting fluid pressure from astorage zone at the surface to said underwater storage zone to replenishthe pressure at said underwater storage zone.

20. The method of claim 18 in which said other actuator comprises adevice for disconnecting sections of the stack, and including the stepof elevating a disconnected stack section while maintaining provisionfor transmission of fluid pressure from said underwater storage zone toanother stack section at said underwater location.

21. In the method of installing a stack of underwater well headequipment and apparatus capable of operative connection with the stackto control the operation of said equipment from the surface, the stepsthat include lowering said tack of equipment into operating position atthe well head location, said lowering step including running a string oftubular casing underwater, attaching guide tubes to said casing toextend in alignment therealong, and lowering said apparatus through saidguide tube means toward the stack in said position for operatrveconnection therewith.

22. In combination with a stack of underwater well head equipmentadapted to be lowered into operating position at the well head location,apparatus capable of underwater connection with the stack to control theoperation of said equipment from the surface, said apparatus including aspear having electrical and fluid pressure terminals connectible inoperatively controlling relation with the stack, and means for loweringsaid apparatus toward the stack in said underwater position forgtuidling said apparatus into operative connection with the s ac 23. Incombination with a stack of underwater well head equipment including afirst fluid pressure actuator at an underwater well head location and asecond fluid pressure actuator to be elevated from said location whilethe first actuator remains at said location, first means to controllablytransmit fluid pressure from a supply zone at the underwater location tosaid first actuator, second means to transmit fluid pressure from asource at the surface to said second actuator, and electrical and fluidsupply apparatus detachably connected with the stack to control theoperation of said first means.

24. The combination of claim 23 including means for lowering saidapparatus toward the stack in said under Water location and for guidingsaid apparatus into connection with the stack.

25. Apparatus of the character described, comprising underwater axiallylongitudinally extending socket and spear assemblies adapted forrelative movement between uncoupled and coupled positions, saidassemblies carrying electrical terminals that interfit at the nose ofthe spear when the assemblies are coupled, and having fluid passingports that intercommunicate at the spear side when the assemblies are incoupled position, and said assemblies having guides certain of whichextend longitudinally and about said axis for guiding assembly relativeadvancement and rotation about said axis as the assemblies undergo saidrelative movement into coupled position, said spear assembly includingan upright body, an electrical cable communicating with said pearterminals, a fluid line communicating with said spear port, said cableand line having elongated extensions adapted to hang underwater abovethe spear body, and means attaching the line and cable to the spear bodyat a location spaced above said spear terminal and ports, said lastnamed means including an arm having pivotal attachment to the spear bodyto rotate between up and down positions, the line and cable beingattached to said arm in either of said arm positions.

26. Apparatus of the character described, comprising underwater axiallylongitudinally extending socket and spear assemblies adapted forrelative movement between uncoupled and coupled positions, saidassemblies carrying electrical terminals that interfit at the nose ofthe spear when the assemblies are coupled, and having fluid passingports that intercommunicate at the spear side when the assemblies are incoupled position, and said assemblies having guides certain of whichextend longitudinally and about said axis for guiding assembly relativeadvancement and rotation about said axis as the assemblies undergo saidrelative movement into coupled position, said spear assembly includingan upright body, an electrical cable communicating with said spearterminals, a fluid line communicating with said spear port, said cableand line having elongated extensions adapted to hang underwater abovethe spear body, and means attaching the line and cable to the spear bodyat a location spaced above said spear terminal and ports, and includingan upright guide line attached to the socket assembly and a guide linefollower attached to the spear assembly for guiding underwater verticalmovement of the spear away from and toward the socket entrance.

27. Apparatus as defined in claim 26 including an underwater well headassembly supporting said socket assembly, said Well head assemblyincluding electrically responsive and fluid responsive actuatorsoperatively coupled to said electrical terminals and ports respectively.

28. Apparatus as defined in claim 27 in which the well head assemblyincludes a frame supporting said actuators and said socket assembly.

29. Apparatus of the character described, comprising underwater axiallylongitudinally extending socket and spear assemblies adapted forrelative movement between uncoupled and coupled positions, saidassemblies carrying electrical terminals that interfit at the nose ofthe spear when the assemblies are coupled, and having fluid passingports that intercommunicate at the spear side when the assemblies are incoupled position, and said assemblies having guides certain of whichextend longitudinally and about said axis for guiding assembly relativeadvancement and rotation about said axis as the assemblies undergo saidrelative movement into coupled position, said spear assembly includingan upright body, an electrical cable communicating with said spearterminals, a fluid line communicating with said spear port, said cableand line having elongated extensions adapted to hang underwater abovethe spear body, and means attaching the line and cable to the spear bodyat a location spaced above aid spear terminal and ports, the socketassembly including an upright tubular body and a cable communicatingwith the socket terminals projecting upwardly in the lower interior ofsaid body, and the spear having a nose recess to receive the socketterminals and containing a flowable waterproof material protectivelyoverlying the spear terminals.

30. Apparatus as defined in claim 29 in which the socket body has a ventfor water escaping from the socket interior a the spear assemblyadvances relatively into the socket interior.

31. Apparatus as defined in claim 29 in which the spear body has a ventfor said flowable material escaping from said nose recess as the socketterminals are received therein.

32. Apparatus of the character described, comprising underwater axiallylongitudinally extending socket and spear assemblies adapted forrelative movement between uncoupled and coupled positions, saidassemblies carrying electrical terminals that interfit at the nose ofthe spear when the assemblies are coupled, and having fluid passingports that intercommunicate at the spear side when the assemblies are incoupled position, and said assemblies having guides certain of whichextend longitudinally and about said axi for guiding assembly relativeadvancement and rotation about said axis. as the assemblies undergo saidrelative movement into coupled position, said assemblies includinggenerally upright spear and socket bodies, said guides including anupwardly presented surface flaring upwardly and outwardly from thesocket axis to guide the spear assembly nose downwardly into the socketinterior.

33. Apparatus as defined in claim 32 in which said guides include anexterior cam carried by the spear body and an interior shoulder carriedby the socket body to spiral about said axis and to extendlongitudinally for engaging said cam a the spear penetrates the socket,thereby to guide rotation and advancement of the spear in the socket forultimate intercoupling of said terminals.

34. Apparatus as defined in claim 33 in which said guides include anexterior guide flange on the spear body spaced sufiiciently rearwardlyof said cam to penetrate the socket at the flare surface neck after thecam has engaged said spiral shoulder.

35. Apparatus as defined in claim 33 in which the spear nose and thelower interior of the socket have interengageable stops to limitpenetration of the spear into the socket at said coupled positionthereof.

36. Apparatus as defined in claim 33 in which said assemblies includemeans sealing off between the spear exterior surface and the socket boreto prevent escape of fluid passing between said spear and socket portsin said coupled position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 455,021 6/1891 Krehbiel 399161,686,817 19/1928 Johnson 339-116 2,614,803 10/1952 Wiggins 166.5 X3,004,602 10/1961 Kofahl 8 3,063,507 11/1962 ONeill et al. 166.5 X3,064,735 11/1962 Bauer et al. 166.6 3,086,590 4/1963 Jackson et al.166.6 3,142,337 7/1964 Poorman et al 166-.6 3,163,222 12/1964 Foster etal. 166.6 3,163,224 12/1964 Haeber et al 166-.6 3,186,486 6/1965 Rhodeset al 175-7 X 3,189,098 6/1965 Haeber 166-.6 3,199,595 8/1965 Lafitte etal. 166.6 3,219,117 11/1965 Iohnstone et al 1=66.5 3,236,301 2/1966Johnstone et al. 166-5 R. E. FAVREAU, Assistant Examiner.

1. APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, COMPRISING UNDERWATER AXIALLYEXTENDING SOCKET AND SPEAR MEMBERS ADAPTED FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEENUNCOUPLED AND COUPLED POSITIONS, SAID MEMBERS CARRYING ELECTRICALTERMINALS THAT INTERFIT WHEN THE MEMBERS ARE COUPLED AND HAVING FLUIDPASSAGE PORTS THAT INTERCOMMUNICATE WHEN THE MEMBERS ARE IN COUPLEDPOSITION, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING A RECESS AT THE TERMINUS THEREOFCONTAINING A FLOWABLE WATERPROOF MATERIAL PROTECTIVELY OVERLYING THEMEMBER ELECTRICAL TERMINALS AND ADAPTED TO BE DISPLACED AS THE TERMINALSOF BOTH MEMBERS INTERFIT, AND SAID MEMBERS HAVING GUIDE SURFACES FORGUIDING MEMBER RELATIVE ADVANCEMENT AND ROTATION ABOUT SAID AXIS AS THEMEMBERS UNDERGO SAID RELATIVE MOVEMENT INTO COUPLED POSITION.